Sophia Bonnie Wodin

In a weekly meditation group that I go to we are reading Pema Chodron’s slim but potent volume called Fail, Fail Again, Fail Better , a wonderful and humbling experience. While gathering early holiday gifts I decided to make bees wax candles.   A combined gift from the bees and from me.   This has been a very long process. It began last spring when I discovered that my bees hadn’t make it through the winter.   Very sad, but true of many a novice bee keeper. Slowly I worked through the failure to bring my very first bees through a very long cold winter. Cleaning the winter debris I re-connected with compassion, recognizing that I am on a steep learning curve.   I got sturdier hives with water-tight roofs.   New colonies of bees arrived by early summer.   And we set about making friends. I harvested the honey and wax that that last year’s bees hadn’t used.   Always look for that silver lining. The new bees also gave me some honey and a...

“Can you see the seeds of darkness   in the brightness of the day and the promise of renewal in the process of decay…..”                            author unknown These words have stuck in my mind since doing ritual a short while ago.   To me, they speak of the cycle of life.   They remind us to recognize where we are in that cycle. To breathe into wherever we are in this moment.   And to await change with as much patience and grace as we can muster.   For change will inevitably come. Before cutting down this past season’s peony foliage, I scratched around in the soil at the roots to find Fall Peony the tiniest pink nubbins of next year’s shoots.   The seeds of tomorrow.   Then I got down even closer to the soil and inhaled the fragrant thyme plants, a mere 6 inches tall.   Brushing my hand o...

Come away to the Isle of Apples move through the fog and then part the veil. Mystery calls from the Isle of Apples unfolding our story cycling back winter, spring, summer & fall. Step from the barge on the Isle of Apples met by fair folk all decked out in green spinning our threads of power and love weaving our web winter, spring, summer & fall. Journey together on the Isle of Apples. Hark to the sound of the eternal spring bubbling up from Earth’s bounty flowing ever onwards winter, spring, summer & fall. Here at Her spring we can drink deeply. Lay that that life time now finished and full. Here at Her spring we settle in peace. Here we remember the rolling of seasons winter, spring, summer & fall. Eternal we live on the Isle of Apples though we journey this lifetime perhaps many more. Return we will to the Isle of Apples. Rest in our soul we temper our lot sealing our pact ...

The leaves are turning now. The crows, rusty cawing out their warning, “The days shorten. The nights grow cool. Gather your harvests against the long nights to come!” The leaves are turning now. Preciousness sun-filled days impress on our imagination “How fleeting is time! Pay attention or Now will be Then before you know it!” The leaves are turning now. Farmyards piled high with pumpkins the treasure of asters. Geese flying high in their V-shaped formation, tired leaders easing back so the next can forge the path. The leaves are turning now and so do we turn the pleasure of long days passing into soup simmered on the back of the stove bread, crusty from the oven and the larder stored with summer fare. The leaves are turning now. Watch each day as nature teaches us in this season of change.

In one of the traditions I follow there is a saying, “Intention is everything!”   I have long felt that intention is a great start, but when it comes to manifestation, following through on a realistic intention is what gets the work done. However, an intention well-formed is the first step to successfully stepping into change. This week’s combination of Spring Equinox and the new moon brings with it an eclipse as well as a strong astrological configuration.   While I am no astrologer, I do like to pay attention to what others who are in ‘the know’ think about what the planets are doing. And yes, I do believe that how the planets are lined up and how they relate to each other have a strong impact on what happens on our plane of existence. So let’s take it piece by piece…… First, Friday (March 20 th ) is a New Moon.   That it happens to fall on the Vernal (Spring) Equinox is pretty powerful all by itself.   These events are potent support for new beg...